New Toro Recycler Walk Behind - Experiences?

[Kevin_in_VA]

Last week my lawn (about 1/2 acre) was looking pretty shabby. Usually I don't mow until at least the middle of April, and since my old Craftsman 21" self propelled died on me last fall I had been thinking about a new mower and was kind of interested in the Toro Recycler series (specifically the 20076), it fits into my "keep the wife happy" budget at $460 (Home Depot). Well today I had to go to HD to get a new lockset, and they had stacks of them (the mowers), so I was thinking about doing it because they have a zero% thing going until tomorrow, but figured I go home and get the truck. As we were leaving, my 5yr old wanted to "drive" the zero turns, and riding mowers outside, then I noticed the same exact mower marked down to $367 with the tag "floor model" on it sitting outside. Turns out it has a full factory warranty, and everything but the box. So I went back inside and bought it. It is still at the store. I have 7 days to pick it up or cancel the sale.

So now that I have a seven day hold on this mower, convince me to keep it or walk away. Has anyone had good, bad, or indifferent experiences with them (or any of the Toro recycler line)?

 

[Bird]

Another coincidence, Kevin, but I sold my Toro ZTR yesterday. It was a dandy, but ridiculous overkill for my little yard. Then I went and bought a new SR4 Super Recycler, but I went all the way to the top of the line and got the 20058 instead of the 20076; just can't get away from that overkill. I had looked at the ones at Home Depot and I think you got a good deal there. In my case, my local mower dealer sells for just about the same price as Home Depot, so I went that way. Only time will tell whether these things are as good as they're advertised to be.

Is my Briggs & Stratton engine and cast aluminum deck over your Tecumseh engine and steel deck worth the difference in what I paid and what you paid? I doubt it, but it's just what I wanted.

 

[Kevin_in_VA]

Thanks Bird,

Actually the engine on my 20076 is a "Briggs & Stratton" too. I was baffled because some of the reviews I had read said it was a Tecumseh, and that was the only reservation I had concerning it.

 

[Bird]

Kevin, I stopped by my dealer today and I told him I was really disappointed in the manuals; one for the mower and one for the engine and both about as sorry as I've ever seen. And I have a brochure that supposedly shows all the Recycler and Super Recycler mowers. It shows all the Recycler series to have the Tecumseh, except the 20047, which shows to have a Briggs & Stratton. But of course it also shows all of both series to have the "Quick Wash" Wash-Out Port as standard equipment, except the 20047. However, my 20058 does NOT have the wash-out port. The dealer said he didn't know why some do have it and some do not. That really doesn't matter to me, but I think their brochures should be corrected. And I was a little disappointed to learn that they do not charge the battery when running. Instead, they come with a little battery charger. Now my dealer says the charging system they were using wasn't much good, failed to work a lot, etc., but when I had a DR trimmer/mower with the electric start Briggs & Stratton, it never failed to work to keep the battery charged.

If it wasn't so cool outside (40 degrees and overcast), I'd be out there mowing now.

 

[Kevin_in_VA]

Bird,

I looked at the Toro website and they show the 20071, 20072, 20073, 20074, 20076, and 20047 as models in the Recycler series on the "Homeowner/Mowers" page, but if you click on the "Compare all Models" link you get an electronic brochure that shows the 20005, 20016, 20017, 20070, and 20047. They don't match either. I hope their mowers are better than their website or literature.

 

[Joe1]

Bird:

First of all, congratulations on breaking 19,000 posts. Should we start a pool on when you hit 20,000?

Have you used your new mower? I assume the battery is some type of rechargable drycell. I wonder what is the lifecycle on one of those? Probably one day after the two year warranty.

I have a 6 hp Briggs on a Scott 21 inch front drive big wheel with a manual start. Like me it can be a cranky bugger when starting but has plenty of power and cuts and bags well. I was thinking about replacing it rather than put $100.00 to get it running and a new blade and carb replacement, but the Toro's at the Toro dealer had the Techumseh so I opted to keep the Briggs going based mostly on comments in this forum about Techumseh vs Briggs.

What's the difference in the one you bought and the one the Chief bought. Seems like the less expensive model has the same keystart engine and a 22" cut with a steel deck vs the 21" cut and aluminum deck. Curiously the steel deck model is 5 pounds lighter. Must be the specs on the Techumseh vs Briggs Engine.

Chief: What's the HD return policy.

 

[Kevin_in_VA]

Chief: What's the HD return policy.

My understanding it's 30 days, full refund. I haven't picked it up yet though (if I don't pick it up in a week the deal is cancelled). I'm having second thoughts though, I'm looking at a nice closeout Honda down the street at a dealer for right about the same price.

 

[Bird]

if you click on the "Compare all Models" link you get an electronic brochure that shows the 20005, 20016, 20017, 20070, and 20047

Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it, Kevin?

looking at a nice closeout Honda

I've always thought you could hardly go wrong with a Honda product. The only ones I've owned were a motorscooter and 3 motorcycles, but I've used some rental equipment with Honda engines. I eliminated Honda from consideration for a number of reasons; not necessarily good reasons. For one thing, I only get a "technical error" on their website for nearly everything; can't look up much, since most of the website isn't working and hasn't been for some time. For another thing, I have a couple of genuine Toro dealers very close, but the nearest Honda dealer is quite some distance from me (of course you can get either Hondas or Toros at the box stores). And finally, Honda has some steel decks, but then instead of aluminum, they have another material. I've forgotten what they call it, but it looked and felt like plastic to me. Now at my age, any of them will probably outlast me, but I just prefer aluminum. So, in other words, I decided to go with Toro, but I sure would expect you to be happy with a Honda, too.

First of all, congratulations on breaking 19,000 posts. Should we start a pool on when you hit 20,000?

Joe, I never think to even look at that until someone else mentions it; just reminds me again that I talk too much.

And yes, I mowed the yard yesterday with this new mower. It did well and I think I'm going to like it. I like that "Personal Pace" system. Since I tend to walk very fast (according to my wife and most other folks who have walked anywhere with me), most of the self-propelled mowers I've used wouldn't go quite fast enough to suit me. Of course, I think some of the other newer brands will go just as fast. And while I think I'm going to like it, I'm certainly not recommending it to others. I think it's overpriced. I'm sorry it doesn't charge the battery when it's running. The manual says to charge the battery every 25 hours, but of course it has no hour meter, and I would expect that time to vary, not with the hours, but with the number of times you use the starter. I was surprised that it's only a 21" cut while the cheaper models are 22". And the last couple of Briggs engines I've had were overhead valves; this one is side valves (only one of the Super Recyclers has the overhead valve engine). The dealer tells me the overhead valves provide more power, but if it needs work, parts are more expensive.

Only time will tell. If this mower doesn't outlast me, I'll figure I made another mistake when I bought it.

 

[Kevin_in_VA]

Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it, Kevin?



I've alwaFirst of all, congratulations on breaking 19,000 posts. Should we start a pool on when you hit 20,000?ys thought you could hardly go wrong with a Honda product. The only ones I've owned were a motorscooter and 3 motorcycles, but I've used some rental equipment with Honda engines. I eliminated Honda from consideration for a number of reasons; not necessarily good reasons. For one thing, I only get a "technical error" on their website for nearly everything; can't look up much, since most of the website isn't working and hasn't been for some time. For another thing, I have a couple of genuine Toro dealers very close, but the nearest Honda dealer is quite some distance from me (of course you can get either Hondas or Toros at the box stores). And finally, Honda has some steel decks, but then instead of aluminum, they have another material. I've forgotten what they call it, but it looked and felt like plastic to me. Now at my age, any of them will probably outlast me, but I just prefer aluminum. So, in other words, I decided to go with Toro, but I sure would expect you to be happy with a Honda, too.

Thanks Bird,

I looked at the Honda Website too, and wasn't impressed. I do web design as a sideline and it always baffles me why some of the bigger companies out there have the crappiest maintained websites.

I've had a couple Honda motorcycles in the past. A 750-4 when I was in High School, and more recently a Gold Wing (that I sold to buy my Harley). I also have a Honda generator.

As for the choice between the two. I figured that locking in the lower price on the Toro was a good idea, even while my mind is not 100% made up. But numerous calls to the Honda dealer have gone unanswered as well, which makes me wonder if I want to deal with someone who is as unresponsive as they are.

The deck material is "Xenoy" it is plastic. It's made by GE. Here is some info on it:

Xenoy* Resin

 

[Bird]

a Gold Wing (that I sold to buy my Harley)

Whew, talk about going downhill . . . you have my sympathy. Besides the 50cc scooter I bought for my younger daughter when she was 15, I had a 400cc Honda, a 650 Silver Wing, and a 1200 Gold Wing ('85 Aspencade which was the finest bike I ever rode).

That "Xenoy" was the word I couldn't remember. I'll bet it's good, but no personal experience and it's new enough (to me, at least) that I just figured I'd rather have aluminum.

And I just got back from my daughter's where I let my grandson mow their yard with this new mower.